despot

American  

[des-puht, -pot] / ˈdɛs pət, -pɒt /

noun

1. a king or other ruler with absolute, unlimited power; autocrat.

2. any tyrant or oppressor.

3. History/Historical. an honorary title applied to a Byzantine emperor, afterward to members of his family, and later to Byzantine vassal rulers and governors.

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despot British  

/ dɛsˈpɒtɪk, ˈdɛspɒt /

noun

1. an absolute or tyrannical ruler; autocrat or tyrant

2. any person in power who acts tyrannically

3. a title borne by numerous persons of rank in the later Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires

   the despot of Servia

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Other Word Forms

• despotic
  adjective
• despotically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of despot

1555–65; < Greek despótēs master < *dems-pot- presumably, “master of the house,” equivalent to *dems-, akin to dómos house + pot-, base of pósis husband, spouse; cf. hospodar, host ¹

Explanation

A despot, is a cruel, all-controlling ruler. For example, a despot does not allow people to speak out against the leadership, nor really want them to have much freedom at all. The word despot came into English in the sixteenth century from Old French, but it traces all the way back to the Greek word despotes, meaning "master of a household, lord, absolute ruler." The word is often used to describe someone who abuses power and oppresses others. Obviously, it's not a nice thing to call someone, especially within earshot of the despot who has absolute power over you.

Example Sentences

Office Despot: You will buy this stapler and you will like it.

From Washington Post • Dec. 14, 2017

Despot Index: Allies in Oppression and Corruption Surveillance dominates every aspect of life.

From Newsweek • Jun. 5, 2011

Hamilton declares that he would cheerfully become a martyr to free government, adding: “The occasional Violence of Democracy and the uniform Tyranny of a Despot are productive of the same Consequences.”

From New York Times • May 9, 2011

Packing a dictator-size revolver in a belly-gun holster, Nicaragua's slang-slinging Despot Anastasio Somoza struck a benign pose as he proudly surveyed one of his pet projects, Port Somoza, now abuilding on Nicaragua's sultry Pacific coast.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Despot delivered the industrial classes from the tyranny and anarchy of faction, substituting a reign of personal terrorism that weighed more heavily upon the nobles than upon the artisans or peasants.

From Renaissance in Italy, Volume 1 (of 7) The Age of the Despots by Symonds, John Addington

Related Words

• autocrat
• oppressor
• tyrant